Many older, thinning, declining lawns need to be reestablished. Sometimes we waste time and money attempting to rejuvenate an older, thinning, weedy lawn when the best solution is to start over. Common causes for lawn decline include soil compaction, nutrient imbalances, tree competition, root pests and improper lawn maintenance practices. When less than sixty percent …

There are areas in most landscapes where it just is not practical or possible to bring in the tiller and create a flowerbed. A little imagination, a decorative container and appropriate plants can turn a bare spot into a splash of color. Consider using a container of annuals to add color to a backyard deck …

Even though we live in the coldest area of Florida, as some newcomers have recently experienced firsthand, we can minimize freeze damage to our tender landscape plants through thoughtful placement. Dr. Robert Black, former UF/IFAS Extension horticulture specialist, shares some sound advice on cold protection for the tender ornamentals that don’t particularly like our North …

February can be a confusing month for North Florida gardeners. Winter isn’t over. So don’t let spring fever cause you to make some gardening mistakes. Despite the colder temperatures that we can experience this month, it’s still okay to plant trees and shrubs from containers into the ground. The roots are better protected in the …

Homeowners take on the job of ridding their lawns and landscapes of fallen tree leaves in different ways. But don’t just throw those leaves away. They are a valuable resource in gardening. Leaves make good mulch when placed on the soil surface beneath and around shrubs, trees, perennials and annuals. Make sure to maintain the …

Q. I have older camellia plants that produce plenty of flower buds but they fail to open. The plants form flower buds but many of the buds never open. I’ve seen this happen over the years but I’m not sure why it happens. I’ve wondered about cold injury but could it be that consistent every …

Remember the early freeze that much of our area experienced during mid November. This was followed by a warming trend with, at times, unseasonably warm weather during the latter part of November through most of December. And then much of the Panhandle again experienced a hard freeze during early January. This “rollercoaster” ride of temperatures …

January may not seem like a busy month for gardening here in North Florida but there are a number of gardening jobs to accomplish during the beginning of a new year. Today’s article is taken from the UF/IFAS Extension publication North Florida Gardening Calendar written by Extension Consumer Horticulture Specialist Sydney Park Brown and includes …

Despite the fact that mistletoe remains a popular Christmas decoration with its bright green leaves and white berries, it is a parasite of trees. And, as a result, it can harm trees. It gets water, essential elements and some food from its host tree. Mistletoe also has poisonous properties and should be kept out of …

One of my favorite landscape plants is the crape myrtle. The taller cultivars, when allowed to grow into tree form, can grow to a height of thirty feet or more. They make wonderful additions to most any landscape. They are well suited to North Florida. When planted in sunny areas, crape myrtles consistently flower during …